p53 target genes

p53 target genes

Recent genome-wide analyses and meta-analyses of genome-wide datasets of p53 DNA-binding and gene regulation show that p53 is a direct activator of a limited number of genes compared to the number of putative response-elements
identified genome-wide. They also provide evidence that p53 is not a direct repressor of genes.

This study identified 350 genes that are confirmed direct p53 targets (see below) based on a meta-analysis of 15 genome-wide datasets and over 300 single-gene studies. These genes have roles in several cellular functions including
apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, autophagy, metabolism, DNA repair, translational control, feedback mechanisms.

This study also summarizes several other studies that collectively show that p53 is not a direct repressor of genes but can indirectly repress genes through activation of the p21-DREAM/RB pathway.
Most repressed genes through this p53-p21-DREAM/RB pathway are cell-cycle genes.